Steven Weinstein - 1st place

Final day money finishers:

	Todd Terry - 2nd place

After a break, they kicked the blinds up to 200k/400k with 50k antes.

Stephen opened for 800k and Todd called. The flop came Q T 3 and Todd fired 1 million. Steven shoved and Todd called. Todd held 8 4 for the flush draw. Steve held Q 6 for top pair and the lead. The last two cards came 5 7 and Steven doubled up, bringing their stacks close to even.

Then Todd got all in with QT and Steven called with a dominating AT. The board came A J 9 A 6 and Steven took the pot. He had Todd covered so it is over!

Steven Weinstein finished in 1st place, earning (officially) $658,405 and the Tag Heuer watch.

Todd Terry finished in 2nd place, earning (officially) $434,767.

There haven't been any other monster hands or big showdowns, but Todd has whittled away at Steven's stack. It looks like Steve is down to about 10 million, leaving the other ~41 million for Todd.

By mutual agreement, they changed the blinds to 125k/250k, to make it easier based on the chip denominations in play.

Todd opened for 625k and Steven called. The flop came 7 5 2 and Steve checked to Todd, who bet 900k. Steven called. Turn was the 6. Steve led out for 1.8 million. Todd flatted. River was the 5. Steven bet 3 million. Todd raised to 8 million smooth. Steven let it go and Todd made the courtesy show as he pulled the pot: Q 6 (pair of 6s on the turn).

	Robert Anthony Merulla - 3rd place

Todd opened for 600k and Anthony made it 1.4 million. Todd called and the flop came A J 4. Anthony bet 2 million and Todd called. Turn was the J and Anthony moved in. Todd called, showing KJ offsuit for trip Jacks. Anthony held AK off for Aces-up. He would need to boat up on the river to survive, but it was the 5 and Anthony was done.

Robert Anthony Merulla finished in 3rd place, earning (officially) $236,452.

There was a bit of a delay as they got all of Todd's chips moved over. He's bascially got 29 million to Steven's 22 million as they begin heads-up play. Since the money has already been chopped up, they're playing for the Tag Heuer watch and bragging rights (and whatever points are available in ranking systems out there).

	Robert Jeremy McLaughlin - 4th place

On the first hand, Jeremy moved all in and Todd insta-called, showing pocket Aces. Jeremy held AQ. The board came T 8 8 6 Q and Todd doubled up.

Jeremy was all in with A2 on the next hand and Todd woke up with AK. No help on the board and Todd took the pot.

Robert Jeremy McLaughlin finished in 4th place, earning (officially) $205,942.

Level 32: Blinds 120k/240k with 20 antes. Play has resumed.

The final four players have agreed on a deal and ask me to report the details of that deal here for future reference, since all official payouts and results reports published elsewhere will only contain the 'official' payouts.

They basically distributed the remaining prize pool based on chip counts, then each of the three shorter stacks gives up $10k to the big stack, Steven.

	Left column by chip count / Right column as agreed upon

The break is lasting a little longer than expected as the final four are engaged in heated negotiations. Here are the chip counts:

	Michael Contessa - 5th place

On a final board of T 9 7 9 9 Steven moved all-in. Michael tanked for a while, then made the call showing pocket 5s for 9s full of 5s. Steven held pocket Queens for a bigger full house to take the pot. The stacks had to be counted down, but Michael was covered and busted.

Michael Contessa finished in 5th place, earning $175,432.

The level ended and the final four are taking a break.

	Franklin Caldwell - 6th place

Franklin got all in with pocket 9s, getting action from Michael Contessa, who held AK off. The flop came Q 3 T and Franklin was still ahead, but Michael had picked up more outs with the gutshot to Broadway. Turn was a 7 and changed nothing, but the river was a Jack, completing the straight for Michael.

Franklin Caldwell finished in 6th place, earning $144,922.

	Ory Hen - 7th place

Ory Hen open-shoved from the cutoff. Steven Weinstein (big blind) asked for the count - 2.415 million. Steven called, showing pocket 7s. Ory held A T and would need help to survive. The board came K 3 2 6 K and none of that was any help to Ory.

Ory Hen finished in 7th place, earning $114,412.

	Carl Pion

Michael opened from the middle and then Carl re-raised from the small blind. When the action got back to Michael, he moved in. Carl called, showing pocket Tens. Michael held AQ off. The board came K K 6 A 8 and Michael caught the Ace on the turn to take the pot, doubling up his 3.165 million stack.

On the next hand, Anthony opened for 525k from the middle, then Carl moved all in from the button. Jeremy (sb) moved in over the top. Todd tanked for a short while, then folded what he later said was AK. Anthony also got out of the pot. Carl showed pocket 3s. Jeremy rolled over pocket Aces. The board came A T 2 6 Q and Jeremy took the pot.

Carl Pion finished in 8th place, earning $83,902.

	Charles Marchese - 9th place

Charlie moved his ten-big-blind stack all-in up front, only to get the call from Jeremy in the small blind. Charlie held J T and Jeremy held pocket Aces. The board brought no help for Charlie and he was felted.

Charles Marchese finished in 9th place, earning $61,020.

Level 31: Blinds 100k/200k with 20k antes. Play has resumed.

Here are the chip counts as of the break:

	Shawn Pilot - 10th place

Things got quite for a while as the final ten settled into their new seats. Then...

Anthony opened for 750k and Jeremy moved in. Anthony called, showing A5. Jeremy was way ahead with AQ. The board came 9 2 2 T Q and Jeremy doubled up.

Steven opened for 405k and Shawn called. On the 5 3 3 rainbow flop, Shawn moved all in. Steven called, showing pocket Jacks. Shawn held KT suited. Yep, that's right, nothing but air. The last two cards were 3 T and Steven took the pot with the bigger boat.

Shawn Pilot crashed in 10th place, earning $39,663.

End of level and players are taking ten while they color up some of the blue 5k chips.

	George Medrano - 11th place

Carl opened for 160k, then Shawn made it 460k straight. Then Michael Contessa moved in for ~1.15 million. Carl opted out and Shawn tanked for a while, then made the call, showing pocket Jacks. Michael rolled over pocket Queens and had Shawn crushed. Michael's railbirds chanted "no Jack" as the board came A K 8 K 4. The Ladies were good for Michael and he doubled through.

On the other table, Chip leader to busted in 35 minutes:

On a flop of Q 5 3 George bet 350k. Anthony raised to 1 million, then George moved all-in. Anthony insta-called, showing pocket 5s for the set. George held pocket Kings and was drawing slim to two outs. The last two cards came 8 7 and just like that...

George Medrano finished in 11th place, earning $39,663.

The final ten players drew for seats and moved to a single table.  Play continues.

	Robert Anthony Merulla

Ory moved his chips all in and got the call from Steven Weinstein. Ory held pocket 6s and Steven held KQ off, so this was a typical race situation. The board came J 8 4 2 7 and Ory's pair held up, doubling him up to over 3 million.

On the turn, the board showed A J 2 8. George bet 500k, Anthony raised to 1 million, and George moved all-in. Anthony tanked for a bit, then made the call, tabling A5 for top pair. George held AK and was way ahead with his superior kicker, but then the dealer burned and placed the river card....the 5 giving Anthony two pair. Anthony doubled up, taking a big bite out of the former chip leader and becoming the new chip leader with over 10 million chips.

Level 30: Blinds 80k/160k with 20k antes. Play has resumed.

Here are the chip counts as of the break:

End of level and players have been sent on dinner break. Play will resume at about 7:05pm.

Steven Weinstein opened for 325k and Shawn Pilot called from the big blind. The flop came 9 4 3 rainbow and Shawn checked to Steven, who fired 350k. Shawn called and the turn was the 2. Shawn bet an even million. Steven called. River was the Q and Shawn bet 3 million. Steven let it go and Shawn picked up almost 2 million chips without a showdown.

	Ken Smaron - 12th place

On a flop of A 4 2, Ken Smaron got all-in against Todd Terry. Ken held 42 for two pair, but Todd held A4 for two better pair. Ken needed a deuce to survive, but the turn was an Ace and he was drawing dead.

Ken Smaron finished in 12th place, earning $39,663.

11 players remain.  Average is over 4.6 million.

	Manny Minaya - 13th place

Manny Minaya decided to ship his chips with QT suited and got called down by Michael Contessa, who had him dominated with AQ off. The flop came T 8 6, giving Manny the lead with a pair of Tens, but an Ace on the turn returned the lead to Michael. River was a 4 and Michael took the pot.

Manny 'Maniac' Minaya finished in 13th place, earning $28,984.

	Andrew Barta - 15th place

Andrew Barta moved his last chips in with A4 off and ran into Carl Pion's AK suited. The board came A Q 7 5 3 and Andrew was busted.

Andrew Barta finished in 15th place, earning $28,984.

Mirsad Kovaci finally shipped his last 255k in and got looked up by Jeremy McLaughlin (bb). Mirsad held QJ offsuit and was trailing Jeremy's K2 suited. The board came 4 3 3 K A and Jeremy took the pot with Kings-up.

Mirsad Kovaci finished in 14th place, earning $28,984.

	John Myung - 16th place

John gives it back, with interest:

On a 6 3 3 flop, Steven Weinstein bet 500k and John Myung called. Turn was a Ten and Steven moved in for a bit more than a million. John tanked for a long time, then finally called, showing pocket Queens. Steven held pocket Kings and John was drawing slim to two outs. River was a blank, however, and Steven doubled up, leaving John with about 600k.

John then moved his last chips in on the button and got called by Ory Hen in the big blind. John's JT off was actually ahead of Ory's 73 off, but the board came 8 3 2 9 8 and Ory paired his 3 to take the pot.

John Myung finished in 16th place, earning $18,306.

John Myung was all-in for 1.61 million against Steven Weinstein. John's pocket Queens (both red) were ahead of Steven's A K. The board came 9 7 7 4 6 and the ladies held up for John, doubling him up to ~3.5 million.

Level 29: Blinds 60k/120k with 10k antes. Play continues.

Things have been quiet for a while...no big showdowns or called all-ins.

Multi-way action to the flop of T 8 3 which is checked around. Turn is the 5. Todd Terry led for 250k and both George Medrano and Shawn Pilot called. River was the Q. Todd and George checked to Shawn, who fired 350k. Both called and Shawn showed A4 for Ace-high. George showed K Q for a rivered pair of Queens. Todd mucked his hand and George pulled another pot.

Anthony Merulla opened for a quarter-million and got calls from Todd Terry and George Medrano in the blinds. The flop came J 5 5 and they checked it to Anthony, who bet 350k. Todd called and George folded. Turn was the 7 and both checked. River was the T. Todd checked, Anthony bet 300k, and after a few moments, Todd made the crying call. Anthony showed A 5 for trip 5s to take the pot.

Apparently Shawn Pilot has not learned his lesson, or he's just a glutton for punishment. On a flop of K 5 3 Shawn bet 200k. George Medrano moved all in (he's got over 10 million). Shawn again tanked and this time someone called for the clock. Before his time expires, Shawn mucked his A 2 (flush draw with gutshot). George showed the K (top pair) and collects more chips.

	George Medrano - bluffin' to the max

Clash of the big stacks:

George Medrano opened for 220k from the hijack and got calls from Ken Smaron and Shawn Pilot in the blinds. On the flop of 7 4 3 it was checked to George, who fired 225k. Ken mucked. Shawn made the call and the turn was the 9. Shawn led out for 500k, then George min-raised to an even million. Shawn made the call and the river was the 7. Shawn took his time, then put 10 yellow chips out (that's another million). Just as he crossed the bet line, Geroge announced he was all-in. Shawn tanked, stood up, chattered, said he didn't think he could do it, then finally mucked. He asked George to show. George, who had been quiet and motionless during the all-in, said "you want to see it?" and showed Q 6 -- for ZIP, NADA, UBER-FREAKING-SQUA-DOOSH. George added another ~2.5 million to his stack with that pot, distancing himself further from the field.

Level 28: Blinds 50k/100k with 10k antes. Play has resumed.

Here are the chip guess-timates for the sweet 16:

On a flop of K K J, Jeremy McLaughlin checked to Carl Pion, who fired 275k.  Jeremy check-raised all-in (440k more on top).  Carl thought about it for a bit, then made the call showing pocket 3s.  Jeremy showed AJ suited for the bigger pair.  The last two cards were 9 8 and Jeremy doubled up.

End of level 27 and player are taking 15.

	Stephen VanAuken - 17th place

Todd Terry opened for 200k and got three callers. On the flop of 9 7 6 George Medrano opened for 500k. Stephen VanAuken moved in. George said "You're all in? I call!". The other players folded and George threw his 8 5 on the felt. He had flopped a straight. Stephen held T 7 and had flopped a pair of 7s. The last two cards came 6 9 and George Medrano continues to run better than Usain Bolt at the Beijing Olympics.

Stephen VanAuken finished in 17th place, earning $18,306.

On an Ace-high, all heart flop, George Medrano (sb) announced he was all-in. Ken Smaron mucked his pocket Queens face up. George showed his AQ off as he collected the pot.

Franklin Caldwell opened for 250k, then Ory Hen shoved. When the action got back to Franklin, he admitted he was making a bad call, showing T7 suited. Ory held pocket Jacks. By the turn, Franklin had picked up an open-ended draw, but the river bricked and Ory doubled up.

	Bill Edler - 18th place

Things were quiet for a while, then a confrontation took place...

Shawn Pilot raised to 200k from the middle, then Bill Edler re-raised to 575k from the small blind. After the big blind folded, Shawn moved in. Bill tanked for several minutes, then very quietly said "call" showing J 9 (no, that is not a typo). Shawn tabled pocket Jacks and was way ahead. The board came all red cards -- A 5 4 7 9 -- and just like that, the Stunning One stunned us all and headed for the rail.

Bill Edler finished in 18th place, earning $18,306.

Well at least Bill is on the board with a cash for 2009, after going all of 2008 without a cash in a major event.

	Philip Nieman - 19th place

Philip Nieman got his last chips in with KT off and got called by Stephen VanAuken, who held AJ off. The board came A T 3 4 8 and both made a pair, but Stephen's was better and he took the pot.

Philip Nieman finished in 19th place, earning $13,729.

With 18 players remaining, they have drawn seats and moved to the final two tables. Play has resumed.

	Kijoon Park - 20th place

Carl Pion limped in the cutoff, then Todd Terry raised it up from the button. Back to Carl, who came over the top for another half-million or so. Todd moved all in for ~1.5 million more. There was already over 2 million in the pot. Carl tanked for quit a while, then surrendered his hand.

Over on the other table, Anthony Merulla opened for 175k from the cutoff, then Kijoon Park (bb) raised to 450k. Anthony insta-shoved all-in. Kijoon tanked for a while, then made the call all-in. Anthony's AQ suited was badly dominated by Kijoon's AK, but the board came 7 7 3 Q A and Anthony caught his Queen on the turn to take the pot.

Kijoon Park finished in 20th place, earning $13,729.

After an opening raise from the hyper-aggressive big-stack Carl Pion in the cutoff, Ory Hen moved all-in from the button for 655k. Both blinds opted out. Carl thought about it for a bit, then made the call showing KQ off. Ory held pocket 6s and it was race-time. The flop came 9 6 3 extending Ory's lead with a set. The turn was a Jack, just to make Ory sweat, giving Carl a gutshot with a Ten. River was an Ace, however, and Ory doubled up.

	Anthony Argila - 21st place

Steven Weinstein opened for 165k, then Tony Argila shoved for 515k straight. Steven took a couple of minutes, then made the call showing A J. Tony held K Q and was trailing. The flop came Q T 9 giving Tony the lead with a pair of Queens, but giving Steven the open-ended draw. Turn was the 9 and changed nothing, but the river was the K, completing Steven's straight to take the pot.

Anthony Argila finished in 21st place, earning $13,729.

Mirsad Kovaci has been playing patiently for two days, nursing his short stack along. He just moved all-in for ~850k. After a couple of minute in the tank, Ory Hen made the call, showing AT off (?!?!). Mirsad held AK off (no surpirse there) and was way ahead. The board bricked out and Mirsad is enjoying the courtesy double up.

John Myung moved his stack to the middle and got the call from Ken Smaron. John's A5 off was badly dominated by Ken's AQ off and it looked like the pro was headed for the rail. Then the board came A K 5 9 T and John doubled up with two pair.

Carl Pion opened for 140k from the middle and got called by Todd Terry in the cutoff and George Medrano in the big blind. The flop came 7 3 2 and it was checked around. Turn was the 7 and again all three checked. River was the 3 which double-paired the board. George led out for 275k and Carl folded quickly. Todd gave it some thought, then let it go.

Charlie Marchese opened for 175k and got action from Stephen VanAuken in the cutoff. The flop came 6 5 4 and Charlie fired 200k. Stephen called and the turn brought the 7. Charlie checked, Stephen fired 200k, and Charlie called. River was the A. Both players checked and Charlie turned up pocket 5s for the set. Stephen mucked and Charlie pulled the pot.

	Abul Moborrod - 22nd place

Abul Moborrod opened for 150k and Carl Pion (button) kicked it on up to 700k smooth. After the blinds got out of the way, Abul shoved and Carl called. Abul held AQ and was racing against Carl's pocket Tens. The flop came A 2 2 giving Abul the lead with a pair of Aces, but the turn was a Ten, giving Carl the full house. River was an 8 and Carl took the pot.

Abul Moborrod finished in 22nd place, earning $13,729.

	Charles Hook - 23rd place

Charlie Hook got his short stack all-in and got looked up by Andrew Barta. Charlie held A Q and was trailing Andrew's pocket Tens. The board came 7 3 3 3 5 and Andrew made a full house to take the pot.

Charles Hook finished in 23rd place, earning $13,729.

Level 27: Blinds 30k/60k with 5k antes. Play has resumed.

Here are rough chip counts as of the break:

End of level 26 and players are taking 15 while they color up the orange 1k chips.

	David Levy - 24th place

David Levy open-shoved from the hijack. Shawn Pilot made the call from the small blind, showing pocket Kings. David held AT off. The board came J 8 3 3 9 and Shawn's Kings were good. The stacks were close and had to be counted down, but in the end, Shawn had more chips. He's back up to about 2 million now.

David Levy finished in 24th place, earning $13,729.

	Andrew Eastom - 25th place

Three-way all-in: Andy Eastom is the short stack and had K J. Jeremy McLaughlin and Manny Minaya were also all-in and they both held AK off. The board came T T 5 8 6. Jeremy and Manny split Andy's chips while Andy just split.

Andrew Eastom finished in 25th place, earning $13,729.

	Paul Spitzberg - 26th place

On the turn with the board showing T 8 2 9 Shawn Pilot fired at the pot and Franklin Caldwell moved in. Shawn made the call with Q J for the straight with flush redraw. He was drawing dead, however, as Franklin rolled over A J for the nut flush (on the flop). River was an irrelevant 3 and Franklin doubled up his 1.435 million stack to about 3 million.

Paul Spitzberg got his chips in with K Q with action from George Medrano, who held pocket 9s. It was essentially a coin flip, but the coin did not fall Paul's way. The board ran out 7 6 3 A 2 and George pulled the pot.

Paul Spitzberg finished in 26th place, earning $13,729.

	Victor Johnson - 27th place

After Todd Terry opened for a raise utg, Victor Johnson shoved from the small blind. Todd looked him up with AQ off. Victor held JT off. The board bricked out completely and Todd won the pot with Ace-high.

Victor Johnson finished in 27th place, earning $13,729.

There have been a few all-ins already today, but only one got called: After Michael Contessa opened for a raise utg, Abul Moborrod re-popped him from the big blind. Michael moved all in and after a bit of thought, Abul made the call. Michael's AK was dominating Abul's AQ, then a Queen hit the flop. Michael re-took the lead on the turn when a King fell. By the river, there were four diamonds on the board and Michael held the A so he doubled up with a flush.

Level 26 (continued): Blinds 25k/50k with 4k antes. Cards are in the air! A bit more than one hour remains at this level.

Day 4, the final day of this event, will begin at 11am Thursday with 27 returning players and continued until one man has all the chips. Here they are, sorted by their day 4 table and seat assignments (to see this list sorted by chip counts, go to the day 3 blog):

and here's a reminder of what they're playing for:

	Kaelaine in the 2006 WSOP Main Event

Kaelaine Minton Reporting

Contact Kaelaine